Weekly Maritime Crime and Piracy Update, plus convoy schedule

Tanker (RBD ANEMA E CORE) was hijacked 24 July at 0140 UTC while engaged in ship-to-ship operations with another tanker in position 05:59.36N – 002:24.11E, approximately 22NM southwest of Cotonou, Benin. The pirates boarded the tanker via the other tanker. The hijacked tanker had 23 crewmembers onboard. (IMB, Open Source)

A vehicle carrier was robbed 22 July at 0340 UTC during cargo operations in Conakry Port, Guinea. Armed robbers held a duty crewmember at gunpoint, forced him to direct them to the ship’s stores, and hit him when he resisted. The robbers forced themselves into the forecastle store, stole the ship’s stores, and escaped. (IMB)

A tanker experienced two attempted boardings, the first on 6 July at 2230 UTC while launching in position 06:15.6N – 002:23E, approximately 6NM southwest of Cotonou, Benin. Ten robbers with guns attempted to board the vessel with a hook attached to a rope. The alert crew raised the alarm. The Master used the VHF to inform the Cotonou signal station and navy. The robbers then aborted the attempt. On 7 July at 0230 UTC, the same robbers approached the vessel. The crew became alert to the situation and fired parachute flares. The robbers then aborted the attempt. (IMB)

RED SEA:

Cargo ship (F BLUE) was fired upon by one skiff with six pirates onboard 21 July at 1118 UTC while underway in position 13:29N – 042:36E, approximately 30NM northwest of Assab, Eritrea. The pirates fired and hit the vessel with one RPG round, the onboard security team fired three warning shots, and the pirates aborted the attack. (IMB, UKMTO)

GULF OF ADEN:

Cargo ship (ANDINET) was fired upon by armed pirates in one skiff 22 July at 1029 UTC while underway in position 12:56N – 048:30E, approximately 102NM southwest of Al Mukalla, Yemen. (IMB, Operator)

Piracy and Weather Forecast for 28–30 JUL 2011

A. GULF OF ADEN: Western waters of the GOA show light sea conditions, ranging from 1 – 3 feet. Seas increase as you continue to the east, with heights ranging from 3 – 6 feet. Expect continuous winds from the southwest of 18 – 22 knots and higher gusts increasing 20 – 25 knots with higher gusts by 29 July. These conditions may hinder piracy/small boat operations. EXTENDED FORECAST: Southwest winds 20 – 25 with higher gusts will continue through forecast week, increasing 25 – 30 with higher gusts by 1 August. Overall, expect western vs. eastern GOA disparity to continue with regards to sea heights, with maximum heights persisting in the eastern half. Based on sea heights for forecast week, the most conducive areas for piracy within the Gulf of Aden will be the western and central portions through 3 August.

B. SOMALI COAST/NORTH ARABIAN SEA: Sustained southwest winds of 25 – 30 knots with higher gusts will remain over the Somali Basin through the next 72 hours. North Arabian Sea winds range from 18 – 22 knots with higher gusts from the southwest. An increase will occur by 30 July, with speeds ranging from 24 – 28 knots, with higher gusts from the southwest. The highest sea heights (9 – 14 feet) cover a region from the central Somali coast northwest into the central Arabian Sea. Sea heights decrease somewhat (5 – 9 feet) off Oman, Pakistan, and India. EXTENDED FORECAST: Southwest winds 25 – 30 knots with higher gusts will continue through 3 August in the Somali Basin. Winds in the North Arabian Sea will continue from the southwest 24 – 28 knots with higher gusts through 3 August. Severe winds and sea heights will create conditions non-conducive for small boat/piracy operations through forecast period.

C. INDIAN OCEAN: Coastal waters off Kenya as well as waters south of the equator extending east into the Indian Ocean have increased sea heights and will remain moderate to high through 3 August, with sea heights ranging from 5 – 8 feet. Coastal waters off the Tanzania coast and south to Mozambique show calmer conditions. Ranging from 2 – 5 feet, expect the highest of the range off the Tanzanian coast, decreasing rapidly as you progress south toward the Mozambique Channel. Waters around the Maldives will prove to be most conducive for small boat/piracy operations, with sea heights ranging from 1 – 3 feet. EXTENDED FORECAST: Conditions within the regions listed above will continue through 3 August. Expect the most conducive areas for piracy to be Tanzania coastal waters south to the Mozambique Channel and the waters around the Maldives through 3 August.

D. (U) SURFACE CURRENTS: Currents within the Somalia Basin and into the Indian Ocean are variable with most areas having average speeds of less than 2 knots. Areas of increased speeds up to 5.5 knots occur from 3S to 10N along the Somali coast. Currents within the Gulf of Aden are variable with most areas having speeds of 1.5 knots or less. Portions of the GOA have increased current speeds up to 3.5 knots, to include the central portion of the GOA, waters off SW Yemen and waters off SW Oman.

GULF OF ADEN CONVOY SCHEDULE:

Turkish maritime task group schedule for July 2011.

Rendezvous point “A” (Eastbound): 11:50N – 045:00E. Rendezvous point “B” (Westbound): 14:28N – 053:00E. Convoy speed is 10 knots. Eastbound transits are at 0800 UTC 17 July 2011. Westbound transits are at 0500 UTC 15 July, 1100 UTC 19 July 2011. The task group will be formed by two frigates. Merchant vessels intending to join the convoy should register to TMTG via email (passagecoordination@dzkk.tsk.tr for other flags or geciskoordinasyon@dzkk.tsk.tr for Turkish merchant vessels) not less than two days before the arrival to the rendezvous point. Registration form is available on the “Undersecretarian for Maritime Affairs” website (www.denizcilik.gov.tr). The Turkish Navy Operations Center can be reached at +90-312-4032222/+90-312-4033093, Fax: +90.312-4173065, Email: denkom.harekatmrk@dzkk.tsk.tr. The Turkish Maritime Task Group ships can be reached at primary contact email: TDGG@dzkk.tsk.tr:

The Government of Japan (GOJ) provides escort operations by Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF) for vessels in accordance with the following schedule. Due to the start of the monsoon season, the Self-Defense Force will shorten the east end of the transit corridor. Rendezvous point “A” (Eastbound): 11:50N – 045:00E. Rendezvous point “B” (Westbound): 14:28N – 053:00E. Base speed is 12 knots. Eastbound transits are at 1400 UTC on 21 July and 28 July; 1500 UTC 4 August; 1400 UTC 11 August, 15 August, 22 August, and 26 August 2011. Westbound transits are at 1400 UTC on 19 July and 23 July; 1500 UTC 2 August and 6 August; 1400 UTC 13 August, 17 August, 24 August, and 28 August 2011. Please note that application for JMSDF escort operation must be made directly to the GOJ, which is a separate procedure from the application to MSC (HOA). Merchant vessels that wish to apply for JMSDF escort operation should visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2 _000000.html to follow the application procedure. For further information, please contact directly the Anti-Piracy Contact and Coordination Office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MILT), Japan: Tel: +81-3-5253-8932 Fax: +81-3-5253-1643 Email: INFO- PIRACY@mlit.go.jp (MSCHOA)

Rendezvous point “A” (Eastbound): 12:07N – 044:11E. Rendezvous point “B” (Westbound): 14:54N – 054:41E. Please note that each starting point indicates the endpoint for the convoy from the opposite direction. Transit speed is 12 knots. Eastbound convoys transit at 0400 UTC 23 July, 1 August, 7 August, 20 August, 26 August 2011. Westbound convoys transit at 0400 UTC 4 August, 17 August, 23 August 2011. All merchant vessels wishing to join the convoy group must submit their application forms directly to the ROK naval warship carrying out the mission. Minimum speed for the convoy is 12 knots, meaning all vessels wishing to join the convoy group must be able to maintain the speed of 12 knots throughout the period of transit. Please note that a 2-hour delay in arrival at the rendezvous position will make the ROK Naval Escort Task Group convoy unavailable. At/from 24 hours prior to the convoy time, all vessels registered for the convoy must establish initial communication with ROK Naval Escort Task Group, and update its position, course, speed (PCS), and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for every 4 hours. For further information, please contact the ROK Naval Escort Task Group directly at (INMARSAT:870-773-110238), (FAX: 870-783110591) or EMAIL: chunghae7th@gmail.com.

Russian Naval convoy schedule for July/August 2011.

Ships will be escorted by the Russian warship “Severomorsk” as of 17 June 2011. Rendezvous point “A” (Western point): 17:10N – 040:40E. Rendezvous point “B” (Eastern point): 15:15N 058:20E. Transit speed is 12 knots. Eastbound convoys start at point “A” and transit at 0600 UTC 10 July, 0500 UTC 3 August 2011. Westbound convoys start at point “B” and transit at 0700 UTC 4 July, 0500 UTC 15 July 2011. Vessels wishing to join Russian national convoys should arrive at the assembly point at least 2 hours before the ETD. Shipping companies and shipmasters that would like their vessels to join any Russian national convoy are kindly requested to submit their applications to the Russian Maritime Security Service via e-mail: smb@msecurity.ru or (FAX: +7 (495) 607-01-95).